Pancreatitis in dogs

Overview

The pancreas is an organ that sits close to the stomach

and helps digest food.

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which

causes pain and vomiting.

Pancreatitis ranges from mild to very severe.

Treatment for pancreatitis involves nursing, pain relief,

anti-sickness medication and sometimes a drip.

Pancreatitis can affect any breed of dog but is very

common in Miniature Schnauzers.

What is pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas (an organ that sits

next to the stomach). Pancreatitis causes vomiting, nausea and

pain. The symptoms of pancreatitis vary depending how severely

your dog is affected.

The pancreas sits at the front of the abdomen next to the stomach.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of pancreatitis often start suddenly and include:

Vomiting

Eating less (or not eating at all)

Painful tummy - you may notice your dog stretching into a

prayer position because their abdomen is painful (see

picture)

Diarrhoea

Weight loss

Pancreatitis can range from being mild to severe. Not all dogs

will have every symptom listed, some will only have one or two.

When to contact your vet

Book an appointment with your vet ASAP if your dog has any of

the symptoms above or you think they may have pancreatitis,

Dog in prayer position due to abdominal pain.

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especially if they’ve had it previously. Pancreatitis can cause

severe illness and even death if left untreated.

You know your dog best. If they don’t have the symptoms

listed above but you are still concerned it’s always best to

contact your vet.

Causes

Your dog is at a higher risk of developing pancreatitis if:

They’re overweight

They’re unwell

They’ve recently had surgery

They’ve recently eaten some high fat foods (e.g. pork,

cheese, butter)

Treatment

After a full examination, your vet might want to run some tests to

check for pancreatitis. Tests may include blood tests, X-rays and

an ultrasound scan.

Treatment depends on how severe their condition is.

Mild pancreatitis

Anti-sickness medicine

Strong pain relief

Rest

Tempting them to eat small, low fat meals given

throughout the day

Severe pancreatitis

Staying a few days in a veterinary hospital

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A drip to give lifesaving fluids

Nursing care

Careful feeding (if they aren’t eating on their own, it’s

sometimes necessary to place a stomach tube)

Outlook

Most dogs with pancreatitis make a full recovery after treatment

but unfortunately, some dogs develop it several times throughout

their life. If your dog is suffering from recurrent pancreatitis, see

the information below on "ongoing care".

A rare complication of pancreatitis is diabetes.

Ongoing care and prevention

If your dog has had pancreatitis in the past, they may be at risk

of developing it again in the future. Actions you can take to lower

the risk of pancreatitis include:

Feed a low fat food.

Ideally a prescription diet from your vet - low fat dog food sold in

shops may still contain too much fat.

Low fat treats.

Only give your dog low fat treats. Pieces of chicken breast or

small bits of carrot are perfect. Avoid high fat treats like cheese

or pork.

Keep your dog slim and fit.

Staying slim and fit is vitally important for good health.

Published: June 2018

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